22 THE SILVER FOX 



even better what was due to the dramatic 

 moments in a story. 



There was a stir in the kitchen outside, 

 and Quin s youngest daughter pushed her 

 way into the room, crying and clapping her 

 hands. 



"The priest is come — they're closin' the 

 coffin on him — oh, dada, dada ! " she wailed, 

 and flung herself half-across the table with- 

 out an effort at self-control. 



The women proffered consolation, and 

 raised her red head from where it lay beside 

 the butter. Swaying and lolling, she was 

 propped against their shoulders, with the 

 light full on her convulsed face, and the 

 whole party crushed forth into the kitchen. 

 There was some delay, while a plate, with a 

 heap of silver upon it, was taken from a 

 table outside the door of the house and 

 handed over to the priest, and many faces 

 peered in a circle round the counting of the 

 money. There was more than eight pounds, 

 subscribed in silver and two half-sovereigns 

 by the visitors to the funeral, as payment 



